the goan I network
PANAJI
Criticising the North District Collector’s order under Section 144 CrPC imposing restrictions as “mischievous” and “deplorable,” the Congress party on Thursday alleged that imposing restrictions under the garb of security is misuse of power to curb the right of gathering and protesting.
North District Collector R Menaka on Wednesday had issued an order under Section 144 of CrPC banning gatherings for 60 days citing inputs about possible terror threat to the western coast, or anti- social activity being held in the state.
The Congress spokesperson Trajano D’Mello while raising questions in a press conference about the intention behind the order argued that “if the terror alert is genuine, then other states, along the coastline including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala should have also imposed similar prohibitory orders”.
Such indiscriminate orders created a sense of alarm among people and were especially harmful in a tourism-oriented state, he said.
D’Mello further asked whether the government is trying to say that the situation in Goa is as bad as the situation in Kashmir?
D’Mello said as per Supreme Court’s recent judgement the lawmakers cannot use Section 144 to restrict citizens of their fundamental right to assemble peacefully and cannot be used to prevent expression of opinion or curb any democratic rights.
“When the Supreme Court says one should not indiscriminately use Section 144 to stifle the voice of people and restrict them from showing dissent, how can the Goa government impose the same prohibitory section for a period of two months?” D’Mello asked.
He said that the conditions laid down of verification of people staying in rented houses, flats, hotels appears to be very mischievous when these conditions are already existing.
D’Mello expressed the fear that notification will be misused to raid houses, hotels and any other place and to harass those people who are known to be speaking against CAA, NPR and NRC.
If the government believes the intelligence inputs are true as made out to be as per the notification, then the most vulnerable terror hideout would be in the casinos where government security personnel do not have free access. The government should also shut down the casinos for 60 days, D’Mello argued.
